Energy supply device for providing electrical energy to a motor vehicle, method for operating an energy supply device, method for manufacturing energy supply devices, and energy supply arrangement

ABSTRACT

An energy supply device for providing electrical energy to a motor vehicle comprises an energy supply unit arranged in a housing. It is thereby provided that the energy supply unit is electrically connected on the one hand to an energy source and on the other hand to a transmission device designed to establish a safety extra-low voltage connection to the motor vehicle, and the energy supply unit can be controlled by means of a control unit to provide the energy for the motor vehicle, wherein the control unit is provided and designed to control a further energy supply unit said further energy supply unit can be arranged separately from the energy supply unit in the housing and can be electrically connected on the one hand to the energy source and on the other hand to the motor vehicle. A method for operating an energy supply device, a method for manufacturing energy supply devices and an energy supply arrangement are also provided.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to an energy supply device forproviding electrical energy to a motor vehicle, comprising an energysupply unit arranged in a housing. Embodiments of the invention furtherrelate to a method of operating an energy supply device, a method ofmanufacturing energy supply devices, and an energy supply arrangement.

Description of the Related Art

For example, DE 10 2011 007 839 A1 is known from the prior art. Thisdescribes a vehicle charging device, comprising a charging stationoutside a vehicle, a charging cable and an electrical charging system ofthe vehicle, for the charging of an electrical energy storage device ofthe vehicle with electrical energy from an external alternating currentnetwork, wherein the charging station can be supplied with electricalenergy from the external alternating current network on the input side,the charging cable is electrically connected to the charging station orcan be electrically connected to the charging station, the chargingcable can be electrically connected to the electrical charging system bymeans of a plug-socket connection, the charging station has sixelectrical taps, the charging cable has six electrical lines and, inorder to charge the electrical energy storage device, the six electricaltaps of the charging station are connected to the six electrical linesof the charging cable with the same configuration and the six electricallines of the charging cable are connected to at least four electricalcontacts of the electrical charging system in the same way.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure proposes an energy supply device for providingelectrical energy for a motor vehicle, which has advantages over knownenergy supply devices, in particular wherein the electrical energy canbe provided in an extremely flexible manner in different configurations.

In some embodiments, an energy supply unit is electrically connected onthe one hand to an energy source and on the other hand to a transmissiondevice designed to establish a safety extra-low voltage connection tothe motor vehicle and the energy supply unit can be controlled by meansof a control unit to provide the energy for the motor vehicle, whereinthe control unit is provided and designed to control a further energysupply unit, said further energy supply unit can be arranged separatelyfrom the energy supply unit in the housing and can be electricallyconnected on the one hand to the energy source and on the other hand tothe motor vehicle.

The energy supply device is used to provide the electrical energy forthe motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has, for example, an energy storagedevice for temporary storage of the electrical energy. It may thereforebe provided that the electrical energy provided by the energy supplydevice can at least occasionally be used to charge the energy storagedevice of the motor vehicle.

In order to transmit the electrical energy from the energy supply deviceto the motor vehicle, the energy supply device has the energy supplyunit. This is electrically connected to the energy source on the onehand and to the transmission device on the other hand. In other words,the transmission device is electrically connected to the energy sourceby means of the energy supply unit. The energy source is used to providethe electrical energy. For example, an energy grid, in particular adomestic energy grid and/or a public energy grid, is used as the energysource.

The transmission device may be a contact transmission device or acable-based transmission device. The electrical connection between theenergy supply unit and the motor vehicle is ultimately established bymeans of the transmission device. For example, the transmission deviceis in the form of a contact point or contact plate that is electricallycontacted at least temporarily by a current collector of the motorvehicle.

The transmission device is used to establish the safety extra-lowvoltage connection, i.e., an electrical connection that is intended anddesigned for transmission of a safety extra-low voltage. To comply withsafety regulations, the transmission device is therefore only supplied asafety extra-low voltage (SELV) by the energy supply unit. The safetyextra-low voltage is characterized by the fact that it is at most 25 Vfor alternating current and at most 60 V for direct current.

The energy supply unit adjusts the electrical voltage present at thetransmission device in such a way that it meets these conditions, i.e.,only the safety extra-low voltage is present at the transmission device.The energy supply unit is controlled by the control unit for thispurpose. For this purpose, the energy supply unit, for example, has anelectrical switch, which is electrically arranged between the energysource and the transmission device. The switch can be controlled by thecontrol unit. For example, in a first switch position of the switchthere is an electrical connection between the energy source and thetransmission device, whereas in a second switch position it isinterrupted, so that the energy source and the transmission device areelectrically separated from each other.

In order to enable a particularly flexible configuration of the energysupply device, the control unit is provided and designed for controllingthe further energy supply unit. This is meant to indicate that thecontrol unit is at least set out to control the further energy supplyunit. For example, for this purpose, the control unit has acorresponding output for the further energy supply unit.

The additional energy supply unit can basically be arranged separatelyfrom the energy supply unit in the housing and can be electricallyconnected to the energy source on the one hand and to the motor vehicleon the other. The further energy supply unit is initially purelyoptional. It may therefore be envisaged that initially only the energysupply unit is arranged in the housing and is connected for its controlto the control unit. However, the control unit is in any case set up tocontrol the further energy supply unit.

In addition to the energy supply unit, the further energy supply unitcan also be arranged in the housing or, alternatively in at least oneembodiment of the energy supply device, it is present in the housing. Inthis case, it is electrically connected to the energy source on the onehand and electrically connectable to the motor vehicle on the otherhand. For example, for this purpose, the further energy supply unit iselectrically connected to a further transmission device. If the furtherenergy supply unit is present in the housing, it is connected forcontrol to the control unit.

The described energy supply device enables a particularly flexible andtargeted supply of energy. It is therefore possible to configure theenergy supply device, for example, according to customer requirements.In a first configuration, the energy supply device solely has the energysupply unit, but not the further energy supply unit. In a secondconfiguration, both the energy supply unit and the further energy supplyunit are present.

In further configurations, the energy supply device has more than onefurther energy supply unit, each of which is connected for control tothe control unit. For example, the control unit is provided and designedfor controlling the energy supply unit and at least two further energysupply devices. For this purpose, it has a corresponding number ofoutputs to which the energy supply unit and the at least one furtherenergy supply unit can be connected.

A further development provides that the control unit has a communicationdevice for communicating with a communication counterpart of the motorvehicle. The communication device serves to establish a communicationlink to the motor vehicle or to the communication counterpart of themotor vehicle. Via the communication link, the motor vehicle can, forexample, specify at least one energy supply parameter on the basis ofwhich the energy is provided. For example, an electrical voltage, anamount of electrical energy or the like is used as the energy supplyparameter.

In any case, the communication device is a component of the controlunit, so that ultimately the motor vehicle can respectively control theenergy supply unit and the at least one further energy supply unit in atargeted manner by means of the communication device. As a result, asimple construction of the energy supply device is achieved, becausethere is only a single communication device for communicating with themotor vehicle for the plurality of energy supply units.

A further development provides that the further energy supply unit iselectrically connected to a further transmission device designed for alow-voltage connection. Reference has already been made above to thefurther transmission device. This is designed for establishing thelow-voltage connection to the motor vehicle. A voltage of at most 1,000V in the case of alternating current and at most 1,500 V for directcurrent is meant when speaking of low-voltage. In any case, however, theelectrical voltage applied to the further transmission unit by thefurther energy supply unit is higher than the voltage applied to thetransmission device by the energy supply device.

For example, the voltage applied by the further energy supply unit tothe further transmission device is more than 25 V, in particular atleast 100 V, at least 200 V, at least 300 V, at least 400 V or at least500 V, in the case of alternating current, and more than 60 V, inparticular at least 100 V, at least 200 V, at least 300 V, at least 400V, at least 500 V or at least 600 V, in the case of direct current.

In this respect, different charging processes can be achieved with theassistance of the energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit.For example, the additional energy supply unit can be used for fastcharging of the motor vehicle, whereas the energy supply unit isdesigned for slower charging. In this way, a particularly flexibleoperation of the energy supply device is achieved.

One further embodiment provides that the energy supply unit and thefurther energy supply unit are electrically connected to a common energyconnection of the housing separately from one another. The energy supplyunit and the further energy supply unit are connected to the energysource by means of the energy connection of the housing. Since theenergy supply unit and the further energy supply unit are separatelyconnected to the common energy connection, the same voltage is appliedto each of the units as is applied to the energy connection. The energysupply unit and the further energy supply unit adapt this voltage insuch a way that the voltage applied to the transmission device and thefurther transmission device respectively is within the desired voltagerange. The described embodiment of the energy supply device enables asimple construction.

A further development provides that the energy supply unit and thefurther energy supply unit are electrically connected to the commonenergy connection by means of a common rectifier. The common rectifieris electrically arranged between the energy connection on the one handand the energy supply unit and the further energy supply unit on theother hand. The energy source provides alternating current at the energyconnection, which is converted into direct current with the assistanceof the rectifier, which is then supplied to the energy supply unit andthe further energy supply unit. In this context, it may be provided thatan output voltage of the rectifier is applied to both the energy supplyunit and the further energy supply unit. The use of the common rectifiermakes it possible to dispense with separate rectifiers, which permits asignificant cost saving.

According to a further development, the energy supply unit iselectrically connected to the common rectifier by means of a DC-to-DCconverter and the further energy supply unit is electrically connectedto the common rectifier by means of a further DC-to-DC converter. Bymeans of the DC-to-DC converter and the further DC-to-DC converter, theoutput voltage provided by the common rectifier can be converted intoanother voltage or other voltages.

For example, a first voltage is provided with the assistance of theDC-to-DC converter of the energy supply unit and a second voltage isprovided with the assistance of the further DC-to-DC converter of thefurther energy supply unit. The second voltage can correspond to thefirst voltage or be different from it.

In any case, the first voltage and the second voltage are different fromthe output voltage of the rectifier. Such an arrangement enablesparticularly flexible supply of electrical energy for the motor vehicle.

Additional embodiments relate to a method for operating an energy supplydevice for providing electrical energy for a motor vehicle, inparticular an energy supply device according to the embodiments in theframework of this description, wherein the energy supply device has anenergy supply unit arranged in a housing. It is thereby provided thatthe energy supply unit is electrically connected on the one hand to anenergy source and on the other hand to a transmission device designed toestablish a safety extra-low voltage connection and is controlled bymeans of a control unit for supplying the energy to the motor vehicle,wherein a further energy supply unit is arranged in the housing and iselectrically connected on the one hand to the energy source and can beelectrically connected on the other hand to the motor vehicle, whereinthe further energy supply unit is controlled by means of the controlunit for supplying the energy to the motor vehicle.

The advantages of such an approach or of such a design of the energysupply device have already been discussed. Both the energy supply deviceand the method for operating it can be further developed in accordancewith the explanations in the framework of this description. In thisrespect, the energy supply device has both the energy supply unit andthe further energy supply unit. Both are controlled by means of the samecontrol unit, wherein the control unit may have the communication devicefor communication with the motor vehicle.

Additional embodiments relate to a method for producing energy supplydevices for providing electrical energy for a motor vehicle, inparticular energy supply devices which are each designed in accordancewith the embodiments in the framework of this description, wherein eachof the energy supply devices has an energy supply unit arranged in ahousing. It is thereby provided that the energy supply unit iselectrically connected on the one hand to an energy source and on theother hand to a transmission device designed to establish a safetyextra-low voltage connection and which can be controlled by means of acontrol unit for providing the energy for the motor vehicle, wherein fora part of the energy supply devices, such as only for the part of theenergy supply devices, a further energy supply unit is arranged in thehousing and is electrically connected on the one hand to the energysource and on the other hand can be electrically connected to the motorvehicle, wherein the control unit is provided and designed forcontrolling the further energy supply unit.

Once again, reference is made to the explanations in the framework ofthis description with regard to the advantages and possible furtherdevelopments of the energy supply devices or each of the energy supplydevices.

Different energy supply devices can be manufactured in a simple mannerby means of the process described. It is thus provided that in one partof the energy supply devices, only the energy supply unit, however notthe further energy supply unit, is arranged in the housing. In a secondpart, on the other hand, both the energy supply unit and the furtherenergy supply unit are arranged in the housing. The energy supply unitand the further energy supply unit are each controlled by means of thecontrol unit. To this extent, they are each electrically connected tothe control unit, if present.

In addition, some embodiments relate to an energy supply arrangement,having a motor vehicle and an energy supply device for providingelectrical energy for the motor vehicle, in particular an energy supplydevice in accordance with the embodiments in the framework of thisdescription, wherein the energy supply device has an energy supply unitarranged in a housing. It is thereby provided that the energy supplyunit is electrically connected on the one hand to an energy source andon the other hand to a transmission device designed to establish asafety extra-low voltage connection to the motor vehicle and can becontrolled by means of a control unit for supplying the energy to themotor vehicle, wherein the control unit is provided and designed forcontrolling a further energy supply unit which can be arrangedseparately from the energy supply unit in the housing and can beelectrically connected on the one hand to the energy source and on theother hand to the motor vehicle.

When speaking of the energy supply device, reference is also made to theexplanations in the framework of this description with respect to theadvantages and further embodiments.

A further embodiment provides that the motor vehicle is electricallyconnected to the transmission device by means of a relocatable currentcollector and/or has an energy storage device for intermediate storageof electrical energy, which is electrically connected to the currentcollector by means of a DC-to-DC converter. The current collector isrelocatable relative to a body of the motor vehicle, for example, withthe assistance of an electric drive. The current collector serves tomake electrical contact with the transmission device, so that the safetyextra-low voltage connection between the energy supply unit and themotor vehicle can be or is established by means of the transmissiondevice and the current collector.

Additionally, or alternatively, the motor vehicle has the energy storagedevice. The DC-to-DC converter is electrically connected between thecurrent collector and the energy storage device, by means of whichDC-to-DC converter the electrical voltage provided at the currentcollector is converted into the electrical voltage used for charging theenergy storage device. Since the electrical voltage provided at thecurrent collector by the energy supply unit is a safety extra-lowvoltage, the DC-to-DC converter is used to increase the voltage, forexample to a voltage that is higher than the safety extra-low voltage bya factor of at least 5, at least 7.5 or at least 10. This enables aneffective charging of the energy storage device of the motor vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an energy supplyarrangement in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of an energy supplyarrangement in a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of an energy supplyarrangement in a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic representation of an energy supplyarrangement in a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an energy supplyarrangement 1, which has an energy supply device 2 and a motor vehicle3. The energy supply device 2 has an energy connection 4 for connectingthe energy supply device 2 to an energy source not shown in more detail.Furthermore, an energy supply unit 5 and a control unit 6 are associatedwith the energy supply device 2. In the embodiment example depictedhere, the energy supply unit 5 has a rectifier 7, by means of whichalternating current provided at the energy connection 4 is convertedinto direct current.

The energy supply unit 5 is electrically connected on the one hand tothe energy connection 4 and on the other hand to a transmission device8. For example, the transmission device 8 is hereby connected to theenergy supply unit 5 by means of a plug connector 9. In addition to theplug connector 9, a further plug connector 10 can be connected to theenergy supply unit 5, in particular in parallel with the plug connector9.

The motor vehicle 3 has an energy storage device 11 for intermediatestorage of electrical energy, a current collector 12 which can berelocated by means of an electrical drive 13, a voltage converter 14 anda communication counterpart 15. The energy storage device 11 iselectrically connected to the current collector 12 by means of thevoltage converter 14. The current collector 12 can be brought intocontact with the transmission device 8 by means of the drive 13, in thecase in which the motor vehicle 3 is accordingly arranged with respectto the energy supply device 2. A safety extra-low voltage connection ishereby established between the energy supply unit 5 and the motorvehicle 3 by means of the transmission device 8 and the currentcollector 12.

Due to the low voltage applied to the current collector 12, the voltageconverter 14 is used to increase the voltage. The voltage increased bymeans of the voltage converter 14 is then used to charge the energystorage device 11. For example, the motor vehicle 3 requests the supplyof electrical energy by the energy supply unit 5 by means of thecommunication counterpart 15. For this purpose, the communicationcounterpart 15 establishes a communication link with a communicationdevice of the control unit 6.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of the energy supplyarrangement 1 in a second embodiment. The second embodimentsubstantially corresponds to the first embodiment, so that reference ismade to the corresponding explanations and only the differences arediscussed below. These differences lie in the fact that the energysupply device 2 has a further energy supply unit 16 in addition to theenergy supply unit 5. This serves to establish a low-voltage connectionto the motor vehicle 3, such as also by means of a wired connection.This is indicated purely by way of example.

Just like the energy supply unit 5, the energy supply unit 16 iscontrolled by the control unit 6, which is present as a common controlunit. The further energy supply unit 16 is electrically connected to theenergy connection 4 in parallel with the energy supply unit 5. Purely byway of example, it is here depicted that the energy supply unit 16 hasan in-cable control and protecting device (ICCPD) 17 and/or an overloadprotection circuit 18. The energy supply unit 16 is designed as analternating current charging unit, i.e., it is used to providealternating current for the motor vehicle 3.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of the energy supplyarrangement 1 in a third embodiment. This is similar to the secondembodiment, so that reference is made to the corresponding explanationsand again only the differences are discussed. These lie in the fact thatthe energy supply unit 16 is not designed as an alternating currentcharging unit, but rather as a direct current charging unit. For thispurpose, the energy supply unit 5 and the energy supply unit 16 areelectrically connected to the energy connection 4 by means of a commonrectifier 19.

The energy supply unit 5 in this case therefore does not have therectifier 7, but rather a voltage converter 20. The energy supply unit16, on the other hand, has a voltage converter 21. The latter was, forexample, controlled by a controller 22. Likewise, in the thirdembodiment example, the energy supply unit 5 and the energy supply unit16 are both controlled by the common control unit 6.

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic representation of the energy supplyarrangement 1 in a fourth embodiment. With regard to this, reference isagain made to the above explanations, in particular to the firstembodiment. In the following, the differences will be discussed. Theseessentially lie in the fact that direct current, rather than alternatingcurrent, is made available at the energy connection 4, namely from anenergy storage device, for example, from a battery or an accumulator.The supply of electrical energy takes place at a voltage whichcorresponds to the voltage required to operate the energy supply unit 5.In this respect, the voltage is a safety extra-low voltage.

For example, it may be provided to first operate the energy supplyarrangement 1 in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, or thethird embodiment to charge an energy storage device by means of plugconnector 10. Then, the charged energy storage device may be connectedto the energy connection 4 of the energy supply arrangement 1 in thefourth embodiment, and the electrical energy extracted from the energystorage device may be used to charge the motor vehicle 3. In thisrespect, the energy supply unit 5 can be of a particularly simpledesign. For example, it merely has an electrical switch 23.

German patent application no. 102020106347.4, filed Mar. 9, 2020, towhich this application claims priority, is hereby incorporated herein byreference, in its entirety. Aspects and features of the variousembodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments. In general, in the following claims, the terms used shouldnot be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construedto include all possible embodiments along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. An energy supply device for providing electrical energy for a motorvehicle, the energy supply device comprising: an energy supply unitarranged in a housing; wherein the energy supply unit is electricallyconnected to an energy source and to a transmission device designed toestablish a safety extra-low voltage connection to the motor vehicle;wherein the energy supply unit can be controlled by a control unit toprovide the energy for the motor vehicle; wherein the control unit isdesigned to control a further energy supply unit; and wherein saidfurther energy supply unit can be arranged separately from the energysupply unit in the housing and can be electrically connected to theenergy source and to the motor vehicle.
 2. The energy supply deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a communicationdevice for communicating with a communication counterpart of the motorvehicle.
 3. The energy supply device according to claim 1, wherein thefurther energy supply unit is electrically connected to a furthertransmission device designed for a low-voltage connection.
 4. The energysupply device according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply unit andthe further energy supply unit are electrically connected to a commonenergy connection of the housing separately from one another.
 5. Theenergy supply device according to claim 4, wherein energy supply unitand the further energy supply unit are electrically connected to thecommon energy connection by a common rectifier.
 6. The energy supplydevice according to claim 5, wherein the energy supply unit iselectrically connected to the common rectifier by a DC-to-DC converterand the further energy supply unit is electrically connected to thecommon rectifier by a further DC-to-DC converter.
 7. A method foroperating an energy supply device for providing electrical energy for amotor vehicle, the energy supply device comprising an energy supply unitarranged in a housing, wherein the energy supply unit is electricallyconnected to an energy source and to a transmission device designed toestablish a safety extra-low voltage connection, wherein the energysupply unit can be controlled by a control unit for supplying the energyto the motor vehicle, wherein a further energy supply unit is arrangedin the housing and is electrically connected to the energy source andcan be electrically connected to the motor vehicle, wherein the furtherenergy supply unit is controlled by the control unit for supplying theenergy to the motor vehicle.
 8. A method for producing energy supplydevices for providing electrical energy for a motor vehicle, whereineach of the energy supply devices has an energy supply unit arranged ina housing, wherein the energy supply unit is electrically connected toan energy source and to a transmission device designed to establish asafety extra-low voltage connection, wherein the energy supply unit canbe controlled by a control unit for supplying the energy to the motorvehicle, wherein for a portion of the energy supply devices, a furtherenergy supply unit is arranged in the housing and is electricallyconnected to the energy source and can be electrically connected to themotor vehicle, wherein the control unit is designed for controlling thefurther energy supply unit.
 9. An energy supply arrangement, comprising:a motor vehicle; an energy supply device for providing electrical energyfor the motor vehicle; wherein the energy supply device has an energysupply unit arranged in a housing; wherein the energy supply unit iselectrically connected to an energy source and to a transmission devicedesigned to establish a safety extra-low voltage connection to the motorvehicle; wherein the energy supply unit can be controlled by a controlunit for supplying the energy to the motor vehicle; and wherein thecontrol unit is designed for controlling a further energy supply unitarranged separately from the energy supply unit in the housing and canbe electrically connected to the energy source and to the motor vehicle.10. The energy supply arrangement according to claim 9, wherein themotor vehicle is electrically connected to the transmission device by arelocatable current collector and/or has an energy storage device forintermediate storage of electrical energy, which is electricallyconnected to the current collector by a DC-to-DC converter.